Recording-compass.



B. W. BENBOW.

RECORDING COMPASS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY H. 1916.

1,216,200. Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

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B. W. BENBOW.

RECORDING COMPASS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 11. 1916.

Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

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B W BENBOW RECORDING COMPASS. APPLICATION FILED MAYH. ISIS- 1,216,200.

Qwvemtoz UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BURTIS WILLIAM BENBOW, or UREKA, CALIFORNIA.

RECORDING-COMPASS.

Application filed May 11, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BURTIS lVILLIAM Bnnnow, a citizen of the United States, residing at Eureka, in the county of Humboldt and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Recordbig-Compasses; and. I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention which relates broadly to imprmrements in compasses has for its object to provide a simply constructed yet highly ellicient instrument by the use of which the course of any traveling object during a predetermined time or any part of such time may be recorded.

lVith th general object in view, the invention re des in numerous novel features of construction and in unique combinations of parts to hereinafter fully' described be and claimed, the descriptive matter being supplemented by the accompanying drawings which constitute a part of this application and in which:

Figure l is a side elevation showing the improved con'ipass in connection with a watch by means of which the recording mechanism is intermittently actuated;

Fig. '2 is a front elevation of the parts shown in l 1 with the watch case in section;

Fig. 3 is a diagramn'iatic top plan view of the compass proper;

.l is a horizontal sectional view through the compass casing showing a top plan view of the magnetic needle and p: ts in ccuijunctioii tlnn'ewitli;

5 is a vertical sectional vir-w taken on the plane indicated by the line S fl of Fig. i, the parts being shown in the positions which they normally assume;

Fig. (3 is a similar view showing the arrangement of parts when the mechanism within the watch actuates to dispose the record g means to operative position; and

dug the construction shown in the drawings above briefly described, similar characters will. be placed on c spending parts throughout the several views a .d reference will be herein made to the numerous elements by their respective Specification of Letters Patent.

on the casing 1.

Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

Serial No. 96,899.

indices. To this end, the numeral 1 designates a compass casing having a glass top 2 and a removable bottom 3, the latter being adapted to support thereon any one of a number of compass dials e: which may be secured against rotation by any preferred means, but which are preferably clamped between said bottom and an internal rib 5 7 Rising from the center of the bottom el. and having a rigid connection therewith is a staff 6 which preferably comprises a lower tubular section 7 and an upper rod-like section 8 telescopin slidably therewith, said section 7 being shown in the present eu'ibodiment of the invention as equipped. with a stud 9 which depends through the bottom and upset. It is to be understood, however, that any suitable counection may be provided at this point. The section 8 has secured thereon a suitable stop 10 against which the upper end of a coiled s 'iring' 11 bears, the lower end of said spring engaging the bottom 3 as shown. By this arrangement the staif (3 is permitted to contract in length for the purpose of lowering the magnetic compass needle which is mounted thereon.

The needle 12 is preferably provided at its center with an upstanding hollow boss 13 in whose upper end a jewel bearing 1 1 is secured, said bearing resting substantially without friction on the pointed upper end of the stall section 8. Thus, the compass casing 1 and parts carried thereby may swing freely without having any tendency to move the needle 12.

f slide 1-; is mounted on the pointing end 16 of the needle 12, said slide having hinged thereto any suitable marking device 17, a spring 18 being preferably interposed between said slide aud marking device to yieldingly retain the latter in contact with the dial 2 when moved into engagement with the latt r by depression of the needle 12 in a manner to be described. A toothed bar 19 is secured to the upper end of the slide and extends longitudinally of the needle 12, the teeth of'said liar being in mesh with a pinion 2) which is shown in the present embodiment of the invention. as mounted on a screw 21 tapped into the boss 13, said pinion being preferably though not necessarily cast integrally with the hub of a ratchet wheel 22 which is also mounted on said. screw 21 or upon any suitable stub shaft which might be employed in lieu of said screw. By

means yet to be described, the ratchet wheel is turned a predetermined amount as the needle is successively depressed as above suggested, this movement of said wheel serving to so shift the slide 1.5 as to move the marking device 17 radially along the dial l to mark upon said dial for a purpose to be :lully described.

To prevent the slide and marking vice if from overoalancing the pointing end 16 of the needle 12', a counterbalance 23 is slidably mounted on the other end of said needle, said coun erbalance having a toothed adjusting bar similar to bar 19 and 15 meshed with pinion as shown clearly in l. "igs. a and (3, both 01'' said bars being mount ed in suitable guides carried by the boss 13. ltis to be observed that the teeth or the two bars 19 and 24 mesh with the pinion 30 at diametrically opposite points on the latter and thus both bars will be moved inwardly or outwardly in unison according to the direction in which the ratchet 22 is ro tat-ed. It will therefore be obvious that the counterbalance will at all times prevent slide 15 and the marking device 17 from overbalancing the end of the needle upon which they are mounted. Said counterbalance is provided with a depending pin 26 which will engage the dial 4: when the needle is moved downwardly, thereby pre venting said needle from rocking vertically to such an extent as to prevent the device 17 from properly engaging said dial.

A bracket 27 extends laterally from the lower end 01 the boss 13, said bracket being preferably formed as an integral part 01 said boss although this construction is not essential. A block 28 is swiveled at 29 to the outer end of said bracket 27 upon a vertical axis, said block being straddled by the connected ends of a pair of dogs 30, which ends are pivoted thereto upon a horizontal axis 2% lying parallel. with the needle. lhe legs 30 are rigidly joined to each other in any preferred manner but are preferably formed integrally, the free ends oi? said dogs being positioned. adjacent diametrically opposite points on the ratchet wheel 22 and being adapted for engagement one at a time with said wheel, whereby as said dogs are operated successively in a manner to be de scribed, said ratchet wheel will be intermittently turned to move the slide 15 and coun terbalanee 23 as above stated.

A spring 31 is secured in any preferred manner to the joined ends or the dogs 80, said spring extending above the block 28 and bearing against the periphery of an arbor 32 which is mounted upon a vertical axis, the periphery of said arbor having a notch which receives the end. of spring 31 when said arbor is turned from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the opposed position, a suitable handle 3 1- being provided for so turning said arbor. When in the position depicted in Fig. 4:, the arbor 32 will exert a lateral stress on the spring 31, thus so placing the latter under tension as to turn the block 28 to dispose one 01 the dogs in operative relation with the ratchet wheel 22, said spring also exerting its tension to rock the dogs downwardly around the pivot 80 to maintain them. in normal position, this be ing possible since the free end or the spring bears under a flange 35 which projects from the periphery of the arbor ll hen the handle is reversed, the spring 31 will continue to exert a downward tension on the dogs 30, but the lateral tension of said spring will. be such as to engage the previously idle dog with the ratchet wheel.

ll. pair or dog operating members preliorably in the term oi vertical pins are slidably mounted in openings formed through the needle 12 adjacent the JUSH 1;},

l the upper ends or said pins having hea'ls which underlie the dogs adjacent t lie ll ends of the latter, the lower ends of said pins being normally spaced above the bottom 23 as shown in Fig. 5. How ver, when. the needle 12' and a l parts carr ll thereby are depressed as hereinbetore mentioned, the lower ends of the pins 36 will abut th (Hal 4- which will limit the dovi' ward on cut oi said pins. This will in turi p event the drgs 30 from further moving dmvuwardly. The result is that as the ratchet wheel. continues to move in a downward direction,

it will be turned a predetermined amount by the active dog. thereby moving the slide 15 and counterbalance simultaneously in one direction or the other according to the p tion of the handle 3t. This movement the slide 15 causes the device 17 to m upon the dial l as will be farther on described in detail.

it. lever 40 extends through one side oi? the (.vas'iing l and i ilcruuied at this point as shown at 41, the inner end ct said, lever being positioned. above the be anal held normally out of contact thercu by a suitable spring 1? which is secured to the casing 1. and bears against the under side (it said lever. The outer r 01 the lever lO is adapted. to be alternately moved upwardly as shown in Fig. the etlect being that the inner end of said lever will depress the needle to produce the results here 1"ore pointed out.

In the pre,

ll ll ODOJN ll lll embodiment oi the invention, an upri rod l3 bears against the under side 01 lever 40 the outer end ot the latter, sail rod having in its lower end a socket reeei iing therein a second ro wh ch intermittently raise means to shown in the present einbodln'ient ow device as mounted slidably in a bush' g which extends through the edge of: a w tch d and lov oe described. The rod casing ell), the inner end of said rod 1H pref erably having a head 17 whereby it is pre vented from being withdrawn from said bushing. A thrust member 4C8 preferably in the form of a small metal bar disposed in rear of the dial of the watch and engages the head 47, suitable guides L9 being provided for the purpose of holding said member 48 in operative position. The lower end of the member 48 has thereon a lateral projection or nose 50 adapted for engagement with the usual intermediate gear wheel 51 of the watch, which wheel serves to retract the member 48 at predetermined intervals against the tension of a spring 52. the ten sion oi the latter being exerted to thrust aid member upwardly when released by said wheel. This upward thrust, through the instrumcntality of the rods 43 and *il rocks the lever 4.0 to depress the needle and its accoutrements.

The spring 52 is fulcrumed between its ends at and one end of said spring is suitably connected with the member .7, it being preferably received in a notch in said member. A slide 54 is mounted within the watch casing 4:6 and is adapted to be moved into or out of engagement with the other end of said spring to either hold the latter in operative position or to prevent the same from being placed under tension. this construction being very durable and etlicient regardless otits simplicity.

Although the same would probably be understood without further explanation, it may be well to state that the intermediate wheel .51 is driven in the usual manner, the numerals 55, 56 and 57 on the drawing .(see Fig. 2) representing respectively the usual intermediate pinion, the cannon pinion and the hour wheel.

lVhen operating the improved recording compass from a watch as shown in the drawings, the casing oi the latter will preferably be provided with a pair of: sockets adjacent its winding stem, said sockets detachably receiving tlnrcin studs 58 on the lov-Jcr ends o't legs 59 which are secured to the bottom of the casing l in any preferred manner. hen the watch is to be detached from the rcn'iainder ot the instrument. the stiuls 58 will be removed 'tt'Olll their respective sockets and the rod 43 will similarly be detached from 414. screw cap not shown being new preterably threaded onto the projecting upper end ot the bushing 45 to prevent the entrance of dust. It is to be understood. however. that although a watch is shown and descril'icd tor operating the recording mechanism. any other type of horologe may provided For the same purpose. However, the specific mechanism described for actuating the lever 40 will preferably be employed regardless of the type of time piece used.

The dial 4 has on its upper surface a 'plurality of radiating lines 60 representing degrees and has also thereon a number of concentric circles 61 which divide its area into a number of radiating rows of spaces 62 which designate hours or fractions of hours according to the size of the dial. In the form illustrated, the spaces run from (3 a. m. to 12 noon and from 1 to (3 p. 111., twelve hours in all. The member %8 creates twelve thrusts or impulses upon the lever l0 in one hour. At each one of these thrusts, the needle 12 is de )ressed to engage the device 17 with the dial a and at the same time said device is moved radially whereupon it will place marks in one hour across the space 62 over which itis being moved. t will thus be evident that as the course of the object upon which the compass is mounted varies, the dial will turn beneath the needle 12, and since during every hour the device 17 places 12 marks on said dial. the course taken will be recorded.

As an example, let us assume that the entire mechanism is fixed rigidly on a ship which at 6 a. m. on a given morning is traveling north northwest and that it maintains this course for four hours. The suecessive depressions of the needle 12 by its operating mechanism will now cause the device 17 to make 18 distinct marks across the spaces 62 representing the length of time between 6 a. m. and 10 a. m. If at this time the course veers to due north, since the needle 12 does not turn, the dial l will turn beneath said needle with the ship. The result is that as long as the boat remains on the northerly course, the successive marks made by the device 17 will be disposed on or adjacent the line 60 which represents a northerly direc tion. In the diagrammatic showing of Fig. 3, the course suggested is illust Med and it is assumed that after starting in a true northerly direction, the course has remained unchanged for four hours. Any changes, lmwever, will be recm'ded upon the dial as will be readily understood. At (3 p. in. the device 17 will. have reached the limit of its inward movement whereupon, the operator will take out removable bottom and will use new dial, unless he is using a 24 hour dial.

Any dial 4: marked by the member 17 in the manner above described may be kept tor use in again passing over the same course and by its use it will be obvious that the computing now necessary will be obviated. Also, the course plotted may be retraced by reversing the dial -flpreviously made, and handle 34:. causing device 17 to move outwardly across space (32. Furtlumnore, the dials marked properly by the device l7 may be used as the basis of calculations in order to place courses upon maps and the like.

The operation above described is the same whether the device be mounted upon water craft, air craft, or vehicles and even it it be carried by a person.

The dial 4: is of rather unique arrangement and varies from the usual dial in that the characters E, Vii, it. E, N. l lh, E. and S. W. designating respectively tl e directions east, west, northeast, northwest, southeast and southwest are not positioned in the usual manner, but are reversed. In other words, east and west are interchanged, northeast and northwest are interchanged, and soutlr east and southwest are interchanged. This arrangement has advantage. in view oi the fact that the moving object carrying the turns for instance to a northwesterly direction, the dial l will turn with said object and will position N. l i beneath the pointing end 16 of the arrmv 12, which end as usual normally points to the north. Similarly, it the object moves from a northerly course and travels westward, the dial 4 will be so moved beneath the needle 12 as to position W. beneath the pointing end of the latter which indicates that a westerly path is being traversed.

From the immediately preceding descriplion, it will be observed that the direction in which the object is moved and the direction in .icated by the compass are always identical, this being of great advantage as it obviates all computing to ascertain the direction in which the vessel or the like is progrossing.

in the accoinpai'iying drawings 15 have shown certain specific details of construction for illustrative purposes and in the foregoing description, such details have been described, but it is to be understood that within the scope of the invention as claimed, numerous changes may be made without sacrificing-the main advantages thereof.

l claim:

1. A recording compass comprising a fixed dial, a compass needle movable thereover, a marking device mounted on said needle for recordi a course on the dial, and means for intermittently moving said marking device along the needle.

2. A recording compass comprising fixed dial, a compass needle movable thereover, a marking device mounted on said needle and normally spaced above the dial, and intermittently operated means for causing said needle to lower and moving the marking device along the same.

i recording compass comprising a fixed dial, a compass needle movable thereover, a marking device mounted on said needle and normally spaced above the dial, means for intermittently lowering said needle to engage the marking device with the dial, and means for moving said marking device along the needle when lowered.

A recording compass comprising a dial, a compass needle movable thereover, a

i recording compass comprising a dial,

a compass needle movable thereover, a marking oevicc mounted on said for depressing said needle intermittently, and means for moving said marking device along said needle including an operating pin adapted to come into contact with and be operated l y a fixed part when said needle is depressed.

6. A recording compass comprising a fixed dial, a compass needle movable thereover, a marking device mounted on said needle and normally spaced above the dial, means for intern'littently lowering said needle to engage the marking de ice with the dial, and reversible means for moving said marking levicc along the needle when lowend.

7. A recording compass comprising a dial, a compass needle movable thereover, a marl'ringi; device mounted on said needle for recording a course on said dial, and means for moving said marking device along the needle including a ratchet wheel, a dog engaging the same, and means for succes sively operating said dog.

8. A recording compass comprising a dial, compass needle movable thereover, a marking device mounted on said needle for recording a course on said dial, and means for moving said marking device along the needle, said means including a ratchet wheel, a pair of dogs for moving said wheel in either direction, and means for successively operating'said dogs.

9. A recording compass comprising a dial, a compass needle movable thereover, a marking device mounted on said needle for recording a course on said dial, and means For moving said marking device along the needle, said means including a ratchet wheel, a pair of dogs adjacent opposed points on said wheel, means for holding either dog in engagement with said wheel, and means for successively operating said dogs.

10. A recording compass comprising a dial, a compass needle movable thereover, a marking device mounted on said needle tor recording a course on said. dial, a ratchet wheel mounted, on the needle, connecting means between said wheel and marking device for moving the latter along the needle, a pair of rigidly joined dogs mounted on axes at right angles to each other, said dogs being disposed adjacent opposed points on said Wheel, a single means for holding either dog; in engagement with the wheel and re taining said dog yieldahly in inactive posi n edle, means tion, and means for intermittently operating the dogs.

ll. A recording compass comprising a dlal, a compass needle movable thereover, a marking device mounted on said needle for recording a course on said dial, a ratchet wheel mounted on the needle, connecting means between said wheel and marking de- Vice for moving the latter along the needle, a pair of rigidly joined dogs mounted on axes at right angles to each other, said dogs being disposed adjacent opposed points on said wheel, a single spring for holding either dog in engagement with the wheel and retaining said dog yieldably in inactive position, a manually rotatable member against which said spring bears, the axis of said member being parallel to one axis of said dogs, said member being adapted to shift said spring to rock the dogs in either direction around the other axis thereof, and. means for operating the dogs successively to actuate the ratchet wheel.

12. A recording device comprising a dial, a compass needle movable tlu-ireover, a marking device mounted on said needle for recording a course on said dial, a toothed bar secured to said marking device and exter ing longitudinally of the needle. a pinion in mesh with the teeth of said bar and mounted on said needle, a ratchet wheel for driving said needle, a dog engaging said ratchet wheel. and means for successively operating said dog.

13. A recording device comprising a dial, a compass needle movable thereove-r, a marking device mounted on one end of said needle for recording a course on said dial, a counterbalance on the opposite end of said needle, and means for moving said marking device and the counterbalance simultaneously along said needle.

14:. A recording device comprising a dial, a compass needle movable thereover, a marle ing device mounted on one end of said needle for recording a course on said dial, a counterbalance on the opposite end of said needle, a pair of toothed bars secured re spectively to the marking device and the counterbalance, a pinion in mesh with the teeth of said bars, and means for turning said pinion.

15. A recording compass comprising a dial, a compass needle movable thereover, a marking device mounted on one end of said needle. said device being normally raised above said dial, a counter-balance mounted on the other end of said needle, and intermittently actuated means for causing the needle to lower to engage the marking device with the dial and for simultaneously moving said marking device and counterbalance along the needle.

10. A recording compass comprising a dial, a compass needle movable thereover, a

marking device mounted on one end of said needle, said device being normally raised above said dial, a counterbalance mounted on the other end of said needle, intermittently actuated means for depressing the needle to engage the marking device with the dial, and means for simultaneously moving said marking device and cmmterbalance along the needle when the latter is lowered.

17. A. recording compass comprising a base adapted to support a dial thereon, a telescopic staff rising from said base, yielding means for normally holding said staff extended, a compass needle mounted on said staff, a marking device mounted on said needle and adapted to record, a course on the dial, said device being normally spaced above said dial, means for depressing the needle against the tension of the aforesaid yielding means for engaging the marking device with the dial, and means for moving said marking device along the needle when depressed.

18. A recording device comprising a base adapted to support a dial thereon, a telescopic staff rising from said base, a means for normally holding said staff in extended position, a compass needle having a hollow boss into which the upper end of said staff projects, said boss having a bearing resting on said end of the staff, a marking device slidably mounted on one end of said needle and adapted to record a course on the dial, a counterbalance slidably mounted on the other end of said needle, a pair of toothed bars secured respectively to said marking device and counterbalance and extending therefrom into parallel relation, a stub shaft projecting laterally from the aforesaid boss,

a pinion mounted on said shaft and meshing with the teeth of both of the aforesaid bars, a ratchet wheel for turning said pinion, a bracket extending laterally from the aforesaid boss in the opposite direction from the stub shaft, a block swiveled on the outer end of said bracket upon an upright axis, a pair of dogs rigidly connected at one end and pivoted to said block upon a horizontal axis, said dogs being disposed adjacent opposed points on the ratchet wheel and being adapted for engagement one at a time with said wheel, means for retaining either of said dogs in operative relation with the wheel, a pair of pins mounted for vertical sliding on the needle and underlying the aforesaid dogs, and means engaging the aforesaid boss for depressing the same and the needle to engage the marking device with the dial, the aforesaid pins being adapted upon this operation to engage said dial and to thus operate the dogs to partially turn the ratchet wheel.

19. In combination, a recording compass, a thrust member for operating the recording means thereof, a spring for thrusting said member in one direction, a projection on said member, and a horologically driven wheel having teeth engaging said projection for successively returning said member against the tension of said spring and re leasing it.

20. In combination, a recording compass, a thrust member for operating the recording means thereof intermittently, a spring fulcrumed between its ends and connected at one end with said thrust member, a manually shiftable member to be forced against the other end of said spring to place it under tension for projecting the thrust member, and means for successively returning said thrust member against the tension of said spring and releasing it..

21. An operating mechanism for recording compasses and the like comprising a a thrust member, spring fulcrumed between its ends and connected at one end with said member for projecting the latter, a manually movable member to be forced into contact with the other end of said spring to place the latter under tension, and a horologically driven Wheel for successively Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the retracting said thrust member against the tension of its spring and releasing it,

22. An operating mechanism for recording compasses consisting of a casing adapted to contain a horologe, a rod extending slidably through one side of said casing and extending into its interior, a thrust bar in said casing having a laterally extending nose, a spring fulcrumed between its ends against the tension of the sprin In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BUliIlTIS WILLIAM BENBOW.

Witnesses W. ERNEsT'DioKsoN, R. J. Rooms.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. U. 

